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SMOKY MOUNTAIN AQUATIC CLUB

Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club is a Level One USA Swimming certified swim team designed for athletes ages 6 and up of all abilities. The team provides an opportunity for new and veteran swimmers to experience swim practice, swim meets and all the team spirit and fun that comes with being on a team. With practice locations available in Waynesville, Asheville and Swannanoa, Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club is THE PLACE in Western North Carolina for a well-rounded swim team experience.

“Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club seeks to have a nationally recognized aquatics program that develops and trains all levels of swimmers, emphasizing individual progress, team unity, and family participation. Through the sport of swimming, it is the mission of this team to empower members to be champions in and out of the water for a lifetime.”

An energitic coaching staff with over 50 years combined experience in the sport heads up the team. With athletes of all ages and abillities, the coaching staff prides itself on making sure everyone on the team learns something, works hard at something, and has fun each and every practice. Sign up for any one of our locations and get swimming today!

REGISTRATION FOR SMOKY MOUNTAIN AQUATIC CLUB IS OPEN!

Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club is:

  • THE place in Western NC for a well-rounded competitive swimming education and experience.
  • Geared for ages 6 and up
  • Appropriate for ALL abilities.
  • FUN!! Safe!!
  • Rich in a proud, winning tradition.

Locations and Practice Times

The Waynesville Rec Center

  • High Performance: Inquire for more details
  • Travel Group: 4 Days per week
  • Local Group: 4 Days per week
  • Site Coaches: Scott Simmons and Mike Rowe
  • 550 Vance Street, Waynesville NC 28786

The Asheville School

  • High Performance: Inquire for more details
  • Travel Group: 4 days per week
  • Local Group: 4 days per week
  • Site Coaches: Charlie McCanless, Cora Dodson
  • 360 Asheville School Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

Asheville Rec Park Pool

  • SUMMERS ONLY
  • AM Practices for High Performance and Travel
  • Site Coaches: Charlie McCanless, Scott Simmons
  • 65 Gashes Creek Rd, Asheville NC

Warren Wilson College

***Under Construction***

COMING SOON!!!

THE “CONSTANT THREE”

No matter your athletes' age, ability, practice group or the coach running practice, at Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club your athlete will be guaranteed three things at every team function. Your athlete will:

  • Learn something
  • Work hard at something
  • Have Fun

Our novice athletes primary focus is on technique and skill development. As our swimmers grow and progress in the program, the workloads, training groups, and training plans evolve to match the goals and development of the swimmers. As athletes age physically and emotionally, the goals of the team at each workout will remain constant: learn something, work hard, have fun.

TEAM ORGANIZATION

The goals of individual athlete are held in the highest regard at Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club (SMAC). The organization of training groups is based on the understanding that young athletes need an engaging and fun environment, knowledgeable coaching and full family support in order to progress in a predictable manner. As athletes progress at their own paces, it's understood that no two paths are alike. The practice environment, training plan, and meet schedule must match the goals of the athlete and family.

While goals of the athlete are important, placement in a particular practice group is determined by several factors including an athlete’s chronological age, biological age, technical development and level of commitment.

PARENTS

Parents make the team work. The primary facilitators, parents bring their athletes to practice and meets, feed them, help them get team gear, and provide invaluable support. Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club parents understand that if the home environment dovetails the goals of the athletes and program, their swimmer will go fast. They also understand the fundamental support triangle in youth athletics: Coaches coach, parents parent, athletes compete.

PRACTICE ATTENDANCE

The more practices an athlete attends, the greater the number of opportunities they'll have to improve. At SMAC, it's understood that the only place athletes can improve stroke mechanics and technique is in the pool, under the supervision of a qualified coach. Athletes should attend as many training sessions for their practice group as possible in order to appreciate the full benefits of the program.

COMPETITION AND MEETS

Whether it's a local meet in WNC or a travel meet out in California, swim meets provide each athlete with an opportunity to learn, grow and excel. Meets are our games; they are why we practice. Each athlete on the team is expected to attend meets appropriate for their specific practice group. Local athletes attend all local competitions, Travel Group athletes attend local and regional competitions, and High-Performance athletes attend all meets for which they are qualified.

COMMUNITY

Members of SMAC understand that in order to build a strong community, a foundation of mutual respect is essential among all its members: teammates, parents, coaches, siblings, visitors etc. We hold each other to be accountable to the highest standards of decency and civility. We address conflicts and challenges with integrity. We seek out and support positive interactions. We facilitate positive dialogue and conflict resolution. In the demanding pursuit of success, the team depends on the strength of the community.

Training Groups Progression

The SMAC Stroke School is the our introductory group and is appropriate for ages 4-7. This group practices twice a week in 30-minute practices. The SMAC Stroke School is for beginners to competitive swimming. Swimmers will learn basics: back floats, front floats, flutter kick, streamline, over water recovery, rotary breathing, freestyle, backstroke, jumping in, climbing out, and diving. After graduating from Stroke School swimmers may join the Local Group.

The Local Group is our developmental level for competitive swimmers and while we will have older athletes in the Local Group, it's most appropriate for ages 5-12. Swimmers can swim freestyle and backstroke and are in the process of learning breaststroke and butterfly. This group has four one hour practices a week to choose from. Athletes compete locally in inter-squad meets, learn what it means to be a part of team, how to work with other swimmers in the lane, and take part in the lifestyle of a competitive swimmer. Before moving up to Travel SMAC, Local group athletes will need to be to able to perform the following sets before being eligible to join the next training group, Travel SMAC:

(10 x 50 freestyle @ 1:00) (12 x 25 Stroke :40) (4 x 100 freestyle 2:00) (4 x 100 IM 2:20)

Travel SMAC is where our swimmers take practice and competition to the next level. Ages 8-18, swimmers are practicing 4 practices a week and maintaining a consistent practice schedule. This group practices Monday-Saturday and are expected to attend Local and regionals competitions throughout NC and neighboring states. The goal of this group is to achieve USA Time Standards, and work to qualify for state-level competitions. Swimmers will need to qualify for championships in at least one event in order to be eligible for the next group, as well as perform the following sets before moving up to Performance SMAC:

(10 x 50 freestyle @ :45) (12 x 25 Stroke @ :30) (10 x 100 freestyle @ 1:20) (10 x 100 IM @ 1:40)

The High Performance Group is our open to our highest achieving swimmers. This group maintains Championship caliber swimming and strives for success at the highest level. Athletes in this group attend practice six to eight times a week and compete at every level of competition for which they qualify. The High Performance group has practices Monday-Saturday or Sunday-Friday. These swimmers are our culture creators, our role models and our leaders. The group swims the hardest, swims the most and does it all with a smile on their face because they understand they are part of something greater than themselves. The High Performance Group is our Championship Team, State Qualifiers, Sectional Qualifiers, Zone Qualifiers, National Qualifiers, and one day Olympic Trial Qualifiers.

High Performance SMACer at NC Senior Championships

Local SMAC Practice at the Asheville School

Local Meets are a blast!

TEAM MISSION

“Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club seeks to have a nationally recognized aquatics program that develops and trains all levels of swimmers, emphasizing individual progress, team unity, and family participation. Through the sport of swimming, it is the mission of this team to empower members to be champions in and out of the water for a lifetime.”